Spain Bernstein, West Side Story (concert version): Soloists, Chorus (chorus director: Pablo Assante) and Symphony Orchestra of the Gran Teatre del Liceu / Gustavo Dudamel (conductor). Gran Teatro del Liceu, Barcelona, 29.7.2025. (JMI)
Cast:
Maria – Nadine Sierra
Tony – Juan Diego Flórez
Anita – Isabel Leonard
Riff – Jarrett Ott
Bernardo – Milan Perisic
Baby John – Cristofol Romaguera
A-Rab – Pau Camero
Rosalía – Montserrat Seró
Francisca – Laura Brasó
Consuelo – Tanit Bono
Barcelona’s opera season is coming to an end, and it does so with a surprising offering: a musical that is rarely seen in an opera house. I am referring to Leonard Bernstein’s great West Side Story which we saw in the cinema several decades ago. In this case, there is a stellar cast that includes Nadine Sierra and Juan Diego Flórez, with Gustavo Dudamel as musical director. It is no surprise that tickets sold out as soon as the two performances were announced.
We might call this version of West Side Story the ‘musical version’ – all the dialogues are excluded. As one might expect, the concert was a great triumph for the artists, and they received warm ovations during both the performance and the final bows.
Conductor Gustavo Dudamel offered a truly magnificent reading, and I must say that this was an occasion when I most enjoyed the Venezuelan maestro’s direction. He conducted without a score and drew an outstanding sound from the Liceu Orchestra. The same can be said of the Liceu Chorus in their brief appearances.
Maria was sung by Nadine Sierra, fresh from a triumphant interpretation of the role of Violetta at the Teatro Real. The same can be said of her singing in Barcelona where she once again displayed her beautiful voice, impressive vocal technique and excellent stage performance. Like all her colleagues at the Liceu, she did not use a score at any time.
Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Flórez demonstrated his extraordinary singing in the role of Tony. In my opinion, his voice was amplified this time: it has been just ten days since I saw him in Madrid as Alfredo in La traviata, and the difference in volume is clear. I don’t think his instrument has changed in that short time.
Anita was played by mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard, a marvelous singer and a true luxury in what is a kind of secondary role. To these stars, we must add one more. I am referring to my great astonishment at seeing and hearing Sondra Radvanovsky unexpectedly appear on the stage and sing a wonderful ‘Somewhere’.
The supporting roles were all handled well, and the concert lasted for about one hour and 20 minutes.
José M. Irurzun
Featured Image: Final bows at Liceu’s West Side Story © D. Ruano